IS IT RIGHT? by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 20, 1879

IS IT RIGHT?

By S. N. Haskell

“Is it right to have Christmas trees, and pattern after the world and nominal professors in their wickedness?”

No. But we wish to change this question a little. Is it right to appropriate to God's service any custom or practice that the devil has made use of in his cause? If it is not, men should not pray, attend church, or perform any act of worship whatever; for all these things are in some way perverted by Satan. No Christian will contend for a moment that Satan does not usually have the best talent, nor that he does not lead men and women to sacrifice their dearest objects in his service. Does he not cause them to become devotees of the goddess Fashion, in consequence of which they suffer pain and inconvenience during their whole lives? Now shall we refuse to devote ourselves to the cause of God, and to make sacrifices for it, because Satan requires talent and sacrifices in his service? Every good thing, whether in the worship of God or not, and every evil thing also, he has turned to his account. We should seize upon circumstances and customs, and make all tell for God and his cause. A wise general will make use of the enemy's guns, and what he cannot use he will spike. “The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.” The devil gets up pleasure parties and pleasure scenes of every description for the young, and then strews a thousand snares for their unsuspecting feet. Shall we not interest our children in any manner that is lawful and right? Every Christian man and woman will say, Yes.

WAS IT RIGHT?

A Seventh-day Adventist church in the Eastern States obtained an evergreen tree, and placed it in their meeting-house. The children took an interest in decorating it with offerings for the Dime Tabernacle and the Oakland meeting-house. With every offering was a text of Scripture on the subject of liberality and the promises relating thereto, until the tree might well be called a scriptural tree. They met on Christmas eve, not because they believed Christ was born that night, but to celebrate the event of his birth with joy.

ORDER OF EXERCISES.

1. After singing and prayer, passages of Scripture containing promises of the coming Messiah were repeated. 2. Verses relating to his birth were repeated. 3. Declarations concerning his death, resurrection, and ascension were given. 4. Bible stories, such as that of David and Goliath, Christ's healing the sick, etc., were related. 5. The fruit was gathered from the tree, and the texts of Scripture accompanying it were read. Appropriate hymns were interspersed with these exercises, in the singing of which the children took a part, and the scene was very affecting. There was no levity, but all were edified and instructed, and went home with increased feelings of reverence for God and the Bible. Most of these little ones from eight to twelve years of age have since given their young hearts to God. Was it right?

S. N. HASKELL.